Daniel is refusing to sleep so I’m up past my bedtime blogging.

I thought I’d post some good music for Lent every Monday this year and in trying not to repeat what I’ve posted in past years, I’m picking “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds” as it’s not one I’m familiar with off the top of my head. I found it listed on Oremus while searching by the Lectionary readings. It was written by John Newton, the former slave trader and Anglican priest who wrote “Amazing Grace”.

Here are the words:

How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
in a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
and drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole,
and calms the troubled breast;
’tis manna to the hungry soul,
and to the weary, rest.

Dear Name, the rock on which I build,
my shield and hiding-place,
my never-failing treasury, filled
with boundless stores of grace!

Jesus! my Shepherd, Brother, Friend,
my Prophet, Priest and King,
my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart,
and cold my warmest thought;
but when I see thee as thou art,
I’ll praise thee as I ought.

Till then I would thy love proclaim
with every fleeting breath;
and may the music of thy Name
refresh my soul in death!

I couldn’t find a good recording of it sung in worship on YouTube so I chose this one.